Alabaster master
- Oliver is a self-taught stone sculptor working with alabaster
- In his pieces, stone and light interact
- His works are intended to be moved from room to room to where they will get the best light
Oliver Cook’s approach to art and craftsmanship was gradual as well as natural. He studied design at university, then found a job in research and design. Oliver is someone who always created things in his spare time – building furniture, carving wood, making ceramics, and eventually, sculpture turned out to be his favourite craft and where his talent lies. The discovery of alabaster set him on his path. "The first stone yard I visited was stocked with such a wide variety of stone, from marble to soapstone and limestone, that I found it difficult to make up my mind about what to buy," says Oliver. He took the opportunity to learn about the different properties of each stone. In the end he bought two alabaster blocks. “I really liked how you could see the translucent properties even in large square cut blocks,” he explains. And so began Oliver's love story with alabaster.
Interview
- How do your sculptures first come into being?
- First, I sketch out as many different variations of the design as I can think of, and measure the block of stone to plan accurately every aspect of the piece. Once I am happy with the sketch, I mark the cross-section views in pencil, then begin shaping the stone with a saw to cut out the larger sections.
- Then, how do you proceed?
- I rough out the form using power tools, then I work on refining it gradually with various rasps and chisels. Finally, I polish the surface with sandpaper. This is quite a lengthy process but it is worth it: the smoother the finish, the clearer the veining detail becomes, and it also improves translucency.
- Is the interaction between stone and light important to you?
- It is key. The thickness of stone directly affects the amount of light that can pass through, and the light lets you see more of the veining within the stone. Being translucent, alabaster also reflects the environment, Put a vase in a window, and the pastel morning light or warm colours of sunset will be subtly refracted within the stone.
- Are your pieces decorative or can they also be functional objects?
- They lean toward decorative art, but many are inspired by functional objects and are intended to be moved and carried around the home. I like pieces that you can interact with and move from room to room, so they can be placed where they get the best light.
Oliver Cook is a rising star: he began his career in 2020
Works
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Oliver Cook
